Jennifer Stahl's blog

The days of having to choose between college and a ballet career are over. Not only do many dancers join top troupes after earning a degree (see Pennsylvania Ballet principal Lauren Fadeley, Complexions powerhouse Christina Dooling, ABT’s Sarah Smith), but many ballet companies and schools have also teamed up with universities to make it easier for their dancers to earn credits and perform at the same time. The latest is Fort Wayne Ballet, which just announced a new collaboration with the University of Saint Francis.

You're jealous of her extensions. You compete with her for the same roles. You wish you didn't resent her as much as you do, but when she gets that smug look on her face after your director gives her a compliment, you can't help it.

Ever since leaping over to the Bolshoi, David Hallberg has become bigger than ballet. First, it was Stephen Colbert dancing with him for late-night comedy. Now, the fashion world has fallen for Hallberg's compelling mix of classical elegance and peculiar eccentricities. The South Dakota native has played muse to the likes of Annie Leibovitz in Vogue, and he took up a 12-page feature in the latest issue of Carine Roitfield's splashy CR Fashion Book.

When Carrie Lee Riggins joined New York City Ballet at 16, she had no clue how to cook. And living in New York City, she never had to—delivery was just at the other end of a phone call. Jump ahead sixteen years to the present day, and she found herself still lost in the kitchen. So she wrote an email to the Food Network’s reality competition show “Worst Cooks in America,” featuring restaurateur Bobby Flay.

For many students today, the last step before going pro is a traineeship—a one or two–year program where dancers can polish up their technique and gain professional performing experience. While more and more companies are launching trainee programs, the opportunities they offer (and tuition they require) vary dramatically. Some trainees get to take company class and dance with the corps in larger ballets. Others get private coaching from the ballet masters. In certain programs, trainees participate in some of the company's most innovative projects.

After weeks of questions, it looks like there are finally some answers as to who was behind the acid attack on Bolshoi Ballet artistic director Sergei Filin. Last night, Russian police obtained confessions from three men, including Bolshoi dancer Pavel Dmitrichenko. It turns out that Dmitrichenko hired the other two to accost Filin as the director was getting into his car on January 17. On Russian state television yesterday, Dmitrichenko said he did not intend for the attack to go as far as it did.

Have you entered Dance Magazine's Joffrey Ballet School scholarship contest yet? Five dancers won full rides to Joffrey summer intensives through dancemedia.com in January, and ten won in February. This month is your last chance—and with 15 scholarships up for grabs, it's also your best chance!

How come there are still so few black women in ballet? As Dance Theatre of Harlem makes its comeback this year, many dance fans are looking at the rosters of other major American ballet companies, and wondering why, in 2013, there is still so little diversity. Some say the African American community just isn't interested enough in ballet.

Still undecided whether to get a tablet subscription to Pointe? Our app was just spotlighted on magplus.com in a write-up that highlights how we've used digital features to bring the world of ballet to your fingertips.

No dancer should ever leave home without a good dose of inspiration. We've found one that's kind of awesome: The free New York City Ballet iPhone app. It’s constantly updated with fun new pictures of the dancers—both on stage and off—and has a Twitter section that shows a feed of tweets from company members. Best of all, it contains links to top NYCB video clips with dancers explaining their approaches to roles and dishing about what it’s actually like behind the scenes. Find it in the App Store.